I couldn't resist posting this:
This gameday preview has a great (terrible) quote from Ned Yost.
Royals manager Ned Yost questioned himself for pulling Shields in the sixth inning, with his club holding a 4-3 lead and a runner on second with two outs. Jonny Gomes, pinch-hitting for Jackie Bradley Jr., hit a go-ahead two-run homer off lefty reliever Scott Downs.
"I should have stuck with Shields to get us through that inning. He was at 111 pitches [actually, 112], Bradley was 0-for-2 off him, and I just outsmarted myself," Yost said.
No, Ned, you insufferable moron. YOu should not have stuck with Shields. You stuck with Shields too long. You should have had a reliever up as soon as he started getting crushed in that inning (At least at the Bogaerts HR. instead, you waited until Stephen Drew crushed a 2B to start warming a guy up).
Pulling Shields there was absolutely fine.
Your cluster-eff up was not in pulling Shields. It was in allowing Downs to pitch to Gomes. You should have either burned Downs and replaced him with Herrera (which the rules allow you to do because of the pinch hitter) or WALKED Gomes to set up a force AND pitch lefty on lefty.
Just doesn't get it...